Joseph A. Mower to Andrew J. Smith, September 9, 1864
Maj. Gen. A. J. SMITH, Cairo: You will prepare your command to immediately take the field west of the Mississippi against Price & Co. General Rosecrans suggests that you move from Cape Girardeau, but it seems to me that if the enemy is on White River it will be better for you to unite with Mower and Steele, in his rear. Advise with such officers as you can and telegraph me your opinion. In the meantime I will consult General Grant’s wishes. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff.
CIRCULAR. Hpgrs. First Div., SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Deval’s Bluff, Ark., September 9, 1864.
The troops of this division will, as soon as disembarked, move out on the Brownsville road to some favorable ground beyond and in the vicinity of the present encampments, bivouac, and hold themselves in readiness to move to Brownsville. The men will be instructed to fill their canteens before leaving the river.
By order of Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Mower:
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Sarnt Louis, Mo., September 9, 1864.
Major-General HALLECK,
I would like Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith to come here for a conference, and,
if General Sherman is not pressed for his services, would suggest, as a
saving of expenses and for benefit of his command, that they disembark